President Obama meets with a group of Valencia College students and local female workers during his visit to Valencia College in Orlando on March 20. / Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

The Obama administration is seeking to turn the minimum wage issue into a women's issue.

The White House issued a report Wednesday saying that a proposal to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour would benefit women more than men.

The reason: "Women are disproportionately represented in minimum wage jobs," said Betsey Stevenson, a member of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

Stevenson said the minimum wage hike would reduce the wage gap between women and men by 5%.

The report comes as Democratic congressional candidates make a minimum wage hike part of their campaigns. Women are a major part of the Democrats' coalition as the party tries to hold control of the Senate.

Republicans, meanwhile, say an increase in the minimum wage will discourage employers from hiring more people, women as well as men.

"Raising the minimum wage won't do anything for women without jobs," said Republican Party spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski. "The reality is that under Obama's watch life for women has gotten harder as we face higher levels of poverty, lower incomes and ObamaCare continues to hold back economic growth."

The White House report says that more women are employed in low-wage sectors that include personal care and health care support occupations.

"Women account for more than half (55%) of all workers who would benefit from increasing the minimum wage to $10.10," the report said.